Hi

This is a reminder to please provide your input into this program by today.

Please see email below.

Wendy Graham

----- Original Message -----
From: Graham, Wendy D.
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Cc: PHILLIPS,WINFRED MARSHALL; Cheek,Jimmy G; Glover,Joseph; Khargonekar,Pramod P; McLellan,Mark R; Arrington,Larry R; Graham, Wendy D.
Sent: Mon Apr 07 09:53:34 2008
Subject: Water Institute 2008 Program Initiation Fund

Dear Water Institute Faculty:

We seek your input into the design of the 2008 Program Initiation Fund.  Please read the description of the proposed program below, and provide your input by going to the survey monkey link at the bottom of the email!  Please read the whole email, it will be worth it!

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA WATER INSTITUTE
2008 PROGRAM INITIATION FUND

The Water Institute will provide funding to support long-term interdisciplinary working groups consisting of UF faculty, graduate students, and key external experts to address complex issues of water resource sustainability that have state, national and global importance.

Conversations with faculty, students, external stakeholders and potential funding agencies indicate that the following represent promising areas in which interdisciplinary collaborations between UF Water Institute faculty, UF graduate students and key external experts are likely to produce significant progress in the theory and practice of water resource sustainability:

·        The Nexus between Sustainable Energy and Water Supplies

·        Impacts of Climate on Interstate Water Management and Allocation

·        Ecological, Socioeconomic, and Legal Impacts of Inter- and Intra-basin Water Transfers

·        Influence of Climate, Land Use and Hydrologic Change on Coastal Ecosystems

·        Influence of Climate, Land Use and Hydrologic Change on Spring Ecosystems

·        Water, Emerging Contaminants, and Health

·        Impact of Behavioral, Social and Institutional factors on Water Use

The desired outcome of the interdisciplinary working groups are:

·        Strong, long-term interdisciplinary partnerships among UF faculty and their students (as evidenced by successful externally funded interdisciplinary grants and contracts, peer reviewed publications published by interdisciplinary teams, co-authored reports to the legislature and other stakeholders)

·        Strategic partnerships with external academics, agencies, consultants (as evidenced by successful externally funded multi-institution  grants and contracts, peer reviewed publications authored by multi-institution interdisciplinary teams, co-authored reports to the legislature and other stakeholders)

·        Strong relationships and visibility with state agencies and legislators (as evidenced by state-funded interdisciplinary activities, requests for expert assistance for important state issues, peer reviewed publications co-authored with agency personnel)

·        National visibility of working group efforts (as evidenced by funded proposals from national programs, publication of working group findings in leading interdisciplinary journals, invitations to present the working group findings to national academy panels, at national meetings etc.)

In support of achieving these outcomes the following activities will be supported:

·        Leadership stipend for Working Group Faculty leaders

·        Water Institute Research Coordinator for Group Facilitation

·        Smallwood Distinguished Scholar Seminar (Travel and reception expenses to bring in a nationally or internationally renowned scholar in the area)

·        UF faculty/graduate student colloquia to provide a forum for UF faculty and graduate students to present their work in the area, identify gaps in UF expertise; and to identify external academic, government agency, non-governmental organization, and private industry experts to fill gaps (support will be provided for meeting coordination, a facilitator, room rental fees, refreshments and other meeting costs)

·        Symposia to bring in external scientists and stakeholders together with UF faculty and graduate students to present and share knowledge, experience and ideas, and to identify priorities and plan strategies for new externally funded interdisciplinary research and education programs. (support will be provided for meeting coordination, a facilitator, room rental fees, refreshments and other meeting costs)

·        OPS or Graduate Student Assistance needed to assist with existing data gathering and analysis, preliminary modeling studies, preliminary surveys, synthesis etc.

·        Preparation of papers that analyze and synthesize existing data and information, summarize the state of the art in the area, and define important gaps in knowledge that should be pursued in a research and education agenda.  Papers will be prepared in two formats 1) to be submitted to a peer reviewed journal, and 2) to be submitted as a report to the Florida Legislature and/or other Florida stakeholders

·        Preparation of a strategic plan to fund and execute the identified research and education agenda.



Process:

The Water Institute seeks to fund working groups in at least two of the topic areas listed above.  It is anticipated that efforts will be funded for a period of 2 years, with anticipated budgets (including direct funding as well as Water Institute provided support services) of up to $150K per effort.  The following process will be followed to assess faculty interest, seek external input, select initiatives, and form working groups:

·        April –May 2008: Identify interested faculty and faculty leaders for potential initiatives.

·        June-July 2008: Water Institute Director, staff, and interested faculty meet with external state and national partners and funders to determine degree of interest in initiative, including willingness to participate and /or co-fund.

·        August 2008:  Initiatives selected and faculty leaders identified

·        September-October 2008 :  Working groups formed, workplans and budgets developed for each effort.



To provide input into this process, including your degree of interest in particular initiatives, nominations of faculty to participate in particular initiatives, nominations of faculty co-leaders for particular initiatives, and suggestions for external partners and funding agencies please go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=klQlozxyHN_2bz8hp70eq34w_3d_3d .  The survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete.



Your input is requested by Friday April 11th.



Thanks!

Wendy Graham
Carl S. Swisher Chair in Water Resources
Director UF Water Institute
PO Box 116601
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida 32611-6601



Phone 352-392-5893 x 2113
Email  [log in to unmask]
www.waterinstitute.ufl.edu